Flyers inform students of the Mexican American Student Association's Fall Week, a celebration of culture packed with events. / Photo courtesy of Joey Arellano

Written by

Alexis Armstrong

Staff Writer

The Mexican-American Student Association (MASA), a newly formed student group, has wasted no time participating in FSU life by organizing their first Fall Week celebrating Mexican-American culture. Called “Abriendo Caminos y Tierra: Opening Paths Beyond Border,” the week will take place Oct. 29 through Nov. 3.

“The purpose of our fall week is to essentially start fostering connections with the FSU community since it is our first Fall Week programming here,” says current president Joey Arellano.

Initiated by students Alex Victoria, Edwin Lopez and Betsy Roa in February 2012, MASA was formed on the foundation of Mexican culture and heritage. Arellano and current vice president Fabiola Hernandez became co-founders, embracing the long process of creating the organization’s constitution, seeking out goals to reach on FSU’s campus.

As of now, this weeklong celebration is just for fall 2012, but will feature various scheduled activities throughout the week.

The kick-off event, “From Mexico with Love” began Monday, Oct. 29 as a general body meeting, introducing Fall Week. In addition, executive and committee boards of this group opened this meeting to a discussion seminar. This seminar addressed issues facing the Mexican immigrant community, Mexican-Americans, Mexican culture and assimilation into the culture of the United States. MASA partnered with the Advocates for Immigrant and Refugee Rights group for additional inputs and perspectives.

Tuesday, Oct. 30, was designated as “Chill with Your Los Compadres,” a social which encouraged dining at Los Compadres Restaurant.

On Halloween, the “Mariachi Madness Yard Show” demonstrated a cultural performance by officers from MASA and was held in the Union during Market Wednesday.

“I promise this will be a highlight of our week,” says Arellano. “Culture Chair Jeanette Perez, Vice President Fabiola Hernandez and Financial Officer Biance Medina have worked hard and got creative with the performance.”

Thursday, Nov. 1, will feature a cultural tradition, “El Mueso: Day of the Dead,” an event which will feature artist Morgan Bryson, also known as Voila Snow.

Officers of MASA said they were excited to know the student body has been showing interest in Fall Week, especially when the FSU Art Blog mentioned MASA’s Day of the Dead celebration.

“Finding that out was really thrilling because we had no idea word was spreading so fast,” says Arellano.

MASA also hopes to raise awareness of diabetes with Friday’s event, “La Azucar: A Diabetic Epidemic,” an educational seminar co-sponsored by Leon County Minority Health Department.

“We hope by bringing this topic to attention, a lot more people will be able to [be] aware of the choices they make,” says Arellano.

Closing MASA’s Fall Week, “Nuestros Heroes: Our American Heroes” will take place on Landis Green Saturday, Nov. 3, from noon to 3 p.m. This event co-sponsored by Gamma Sigma Sigma National Service Sorority, will be in spirit of the group’s first philanthropy, “Adopt-a-Hero,” supporting American troops.

While on Landis, students are encouraged to donate items in which MASA can create care packages for these serving men and women.

“As many of us are American, we feel that it is necessary to say thank you to the soldiers risking their lives for us in order to preserve the freedom that we have, and the dream many of our families cam here to chase after,” says Arellano.

Suggested donations include hygiene products, snacks that don’t melt and sources of entertainment. The care packages will be shipped overseas to the two soldiers MASA has adopted.

With the goal of becoming an established organization within approximately one year, FSU’s MASA received advice and tips from other MASA groups, such as USF and UF.

“We want to be able to show them even though were young, we’re already thriving and showing them how a MASA ’Nole does,” says Arellano.

After Fall Week, concludes, president Arellano plans to hold a retreat for officers for professional bonding and beginning stages of planning for Spring Week.